In a shocking incident at the Lechter County Courthouse, authorities accuse Sheriff Shawn 'Mickey' Stines of fatally shooting Judge Kevin Mullins.
In Whitesburg, Kentucky, Sheriff Shawn 'Mickey' Stines is charged with the murder of Judge Kevin Mullins following a personal confrontation, Daily Mail reported.
The events of September 19 have enveloped the town of Whitesburg in disbelief, as Sheriff Stines, 43, allegedly shot Judge Mullins, 54, with eight bullets inside Mullins' private chambers. This confrontation reportedly occurred mere hours after the two shared a customary meal at the local Streetside Grill & Bar, opting for their usual lunch of wings and salad priced at $13.99.
Their meeting took on a significant tone after Stines discovered his daughter’s phone number in Mullins’ phone, a discovery that deeply disturbed Stines. Following the lunch, security footage showed Stines initiating a phone call inside Judge Mullins’ chambers using both his and the judge’s phones. This act was part of the prelude to the tragic shooting that followed.
According to courtroom witnesses, Stines requested a private meeting with Mullins shortly before the shooting. Detective Clayton Stamper of the Kentucky State Police testified that the tension escalated quickly, culminating in Stines allegedly shooting Mullins in his inner office, where the judge succumbed to his injuries.
Immediately after the shooting, Stines turned himself in to the authorities and resigned from his position as sheriff. His prompt surrender contrasts starkly with the gravity of the crime he is accused of, as he asserts a not-guilty plea to the murder charges against him.
During his preliminary hearing, Stines' defense argued the incident was spontaneous, driven by extreme emotional disturbance. They claim that Stines did not premeditate the act but rather acted in "the heat of passion," suggesting that manslaughter could be a more fitting charge. "It was not something that was planned and occurred in the heat of passion. For us, the highest level of culpability should be manslaughter based on the partial defense of extreme emotional disturbance," explained Jeremy Bartley, defense attorney for Stines.
The aftermath of the shooting has left the community of Whitesburg reeling, as both men involved were prominent local figures. Stines, elected sheriff in 2018 and reelected in 2022, had a prior professional connection with Mullins, having served under him as a bailiff before his tenure as sheriff.
Judge Mullins, on the other hand, had been a respected fixture in the legal community since his appointment to the 47th district court in 2009 by former Gov. Steve Beshear. The loss of such a judicial figure has prompted a deep examination of the dynamics between the two men, including a civil lawsuit pending against a deputy trained by Stines, relating to a rape that allegedly occurred in Mullins’ chambers.
The motivations behind the murder are currently under scrutiny, with a sex scandal possibly at the crux. Meanwhile, during the investigation, Detective Stamper shared insights and noted a cryptic comment that Stines made as authorities took him into custody. “They’re trying to kidnap my wife and kid,” Stamper recounted, which adds complexity to the already convoluted case.
Furthermore, as the case unfolds, the defense team remains resolute in asserting that significant emotional turmoil compelled Stines' actions. "We believe there had to be a compelling reason for Sheriff Stines to feel like he had to take action. Moreover, we are looking forward to obtaining additional information and beginning to tell his story," the defense team stated.
As a result, as the legal proceedings advance, the community and the nation watch closely, eager for answers that might explain the violent act that claimed Judge Kevin Mullins' life and altered the fabric of Whitesburg, Kentucky, forever.
